Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op.97 ''Archduke'' by Ludwig van Beethoven
Edited by Jonathan Del Mar. Published by Barenreiter
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was the most influential and admired composer of the Romantic Era, and is considered today to be among the greatest composers of classical music to ever live. His music is known variously for its compositional rigor, sublime beauty, organic development, gripping urgency, and life-affirming, universal humanism. He left a significant mark on almost every classical genre he worked in, from string quartets to symphonies.
By the time Beethoven completed the ''Archduke'' Trio in 1811 he had been working on it for several years. In April 1814 he could finally give the work its premiere together with Ignaz Schuppanzigh and Joseph Linke, this being Beethoven’s last public appearance as a pianist. He dedicated the piece to his friend, pupil and patron, Archduke Rudolph of Austria. Today it numbers among his most celebrated pieces of chamber music, not least because of its remarkable melodiousness – a feature typical of Beethoven’s music from these years – and its spacious formal design. Jonathan Del Mar’s new critical Barenreiter edition of the Trio draws not only on early prints but also on various handwritten sources. A detailed introduction by Misha Donat is devoted to the work’s historical contexts. Includes parts for violin and cello, with piano score. Advanced level, grade 5.
